A guide to the Magny-Cours Grand Prix Circuit
The original Magny-Cours circuit, formerly know as the Circuit Jean Behra, was built in 1959. But it wasn’t until the 1980s, when the then President Mitterrand initiated a move to update and modernize the track, that it attracted the attention of the FIA. The circuit benefited from being built in the late 1980s, when it could learn from other major circuits. It seems that the layout of the circuit was inspired by some of the most difficult corners of the leading racing circuits in the world. The track is considered to be a mixture of technical and fast corners, long fast straights and heavy braking and acceleration areas. It requires every possible technique, giving advantage to those drivers with some experience under their belts.
Magny-Cours is famous for its smoothness and is known as being one of the fastest circuits on the F1 World Championship calendar. In the past, legendary British driver Nigel Mansell won the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours two years in row in the early 1990s, only to be usurped by Michael Schumacher, who has stood on the podium here more than five times, for Benetton and Ferrari. The race is run on 72 laps, with a total distance of 306.072km (191.295mi), with each lap being 4.411km (2.756mi) in length. Even the most ardent F1 fans complain that the circuit is located in the middle of nowhere. Facilities for spectators are limited, primarily due to the distant location of the track. There are several camping grounds adjacent to the Magny-Cours circuit, which is just as well, because there are no hotels nearby. The camp grounds are reasonably priced, with all the amenities, but cannot be booked ahead and are on a first-come-first-served basis. Other than the F1 World Championship race, the Magny-Cours racing circuits hosts a range of motor racing events throughout the year, including Superbike World Championships, 4,000 KM of Nevers Magny-Cours (modern car endurance race), the Bol D'or (motorbike endurance race) and many more. The track can accommodate 60,000 spectators in general admission and has 43,000 seats.